Induction of erod activity in HEPA-1 mouse hepatoma cells and estrogenicity in mcf-7 human breast cancer cells by extracts of pulp mill effluents, sl…

1998

Extracts of effluents and sludges from the primary and secondary clarifiers of an activated sludge treatment plant at a Finnish bleached kraft pulp and paper mill were analyzed in two cell bioassays. Total dioxin-like activities were determined by measuring the induction of ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity in Hepa-1 mouse hepatoma cells. Estrogenicity was studied by measuring luciferase activity in MCF-7 ERE-luc, which are MCF-7 human breast cancer cells stably transfected with an estrogen-responsive element linked to a luciferase promoter. Sediments collected near the pulp mill and from other sites in Lake Saimaa as well as fillets of whitefish exposed to effluents were examine…